U.S. Sugar 148

U.S. Sugar 148, formerly Florida East Coast 148, is a 4-6-2 steam locomotive built in April 1920 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Richmond, Virginia, originally for the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC). It hauled passenger and freight trains on the FEC's Overseas Railroad to Key West, Florida until the line was destroyed in 1935. The locomotive was sold in 1952 to U.S. Sugar Corporation (USSC) to haul sugarcane trains in Clewiston, Florida.

U.S. Sugar 148
U.S. Sugar No. 148 with the inaugural Sugar Express excursion train in Lake Placid, Florida, in December 2021
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderALCO's Richmond Works
Serial number61769
Build dateApril 1920
Rebuild date2017-2020
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-6-2
 • UIC2′C1′ h
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.68 in (1,727 mm)
Adhesive weight126,500 lb (57.4 tonnes)
Loco weight204,000 lb (92.5 tonnes)
Tender weight162,000 lb (73.5 tonnes)
Total weight366,000 lb (166.0 tonnes)
Fuel typeRecycled vegetable oil, originally bunker C oil
Fuel capacity3,500 US gallons (13,000 L)
Water cap.7,300 US gallons (28,000 L)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area47.1 sq ft (4.4 m2)
Boiler66+5⁄8 in (1,692 mm)
Boiler pressure180 psi (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox160 sq ft (14.9 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area440 sq ft (40.9 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size22 in × 26 in (559 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve type11-inch (279 mm) piston valves
Performance figures
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)
Tractive effort28,314 lbf (125.95 kN)
Factor of adh.4.47
Career
OperatorsFlorida East Coast Railway
(1920-1952)
U.S. Sugar Corporation
(1952-1968, 2020-present)
Black River and Western Railroad (1971-1973)
Morristown and Erie Railway (1974-1977)
Class141
Number in class8 of 10
Numbers
  • FEC 148
  • USSC 148
  • BRW 148
Retired1968 (revenue service)
1977 (1st excursion service)
Restored1970 (1st restoration)
April 2020 (2nd restoration)
Current ownerU.S. Sugar Corporation
DispositionOperational
References:

During the 1970s, No. 148 was sold again to New Jersey, where it served excursion service on the Black River and Western (BRW) and Morristown and Erie (ME) railroads. Between 1983 and 2005, the locomotive was sold multiple times to various different owners in Connecticut, Michigan, and Colorado who have attempted to restore No. 148 to operation but never succeeded.

In late 2016, U.S. Sugar reacquired the No. 148 locomotive and restored it to operating condition by 2020 for use in excursion service on their South Central Florida Express shortline railroad as part of their heritage tourist passenger train named the Sugar Express, touring visitors all around the Lake Okeechobee counties.

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